Can You Say "Underrated"?

He’s got his Ravens on a roll. After last weekend’s blowout against the Lions, Baltimore is back into the playoff picture with three winnable games left on the schedule.

The reason? Harbaugh’s ability to drive confidence into his players and make any game winnable. He keeps them fighting. He keeps them focused.

Throw the loss against the Packers out the window. Due to key dropped passes and the absence of game-changer Ed Reed, the Ravens had a tough week while still showing they have the ability to come back from a large deficit and force a close finish.

It didn’t work out for the best, unfortunately, but Ravens fans can cast that memory aside. Next week the reeling Chicago Bears come in for a visit, having lost five of its last six games. The importance of this game lends itself to the playoff picture. A win puts Baltimore at 8-6 overall and in a good position for a final tough test at Pittsburgh.

Finishing the season at 10-6 can almost guarantee a playoff berth. There it is, I said it.

Three teams have the same record as Baltimore in the AFC – Jacksonville, Miami and New York (Jets). All three have tough schedules ahead. At least one loss can be attributed to each.

Why? Here are their remaining schedules:

Jacksonville: vs. Indianapolis Dec. 17

@ New England Dec. 27

@ Cleveland Jan. 3

Miami: @ Tennessee Dec. 20

vs. Houston Dec. 27

vs. Pittsburgh Jan. 3

New York: vs. Atlanta Dec. 20

@ Indianapolis Dec. 27

vs. Cincinnati Jan. 3

Remember, both Tennessee and Cleveland are coming off big performances and will be a tough test. Indy, Pittsburgh and Cinci are… well… Indy, Pittsburgh and Cinci.

This may help clear the road a bit for the Ravens pending a tough match-up in the ‘Burgh two weeks from now. It helps that Mr. Reed should be healthy again to maintain that stout defense the NFL has come to know and love.